1. Grammar 101
Verb Form Changes -
Changing for timelessness and
different times

2. Learning Objectives

Understand how verb forms can change

Change a verb form to show timelessness and
different times

Use them for grammatically correct sentences

3. Introduction

All complete sentences must include a subject
and a verb.

The subject, which is a noun or pronoun, and
the verb carry the key ideas of the sentence.

As such, having a good working knowledge of
how verbs can change to show how and when
actions happen is important for speaking and
writing.

It enables you to speak and write
grammatically.

4. Timelessness

Verbs can, first and foremost, show timeless
statements.

These can be universal laws of nature or
something we deem as true and unchanging.

Timeless verbs take on the base form, that is,
as Simple Present.

For example,
1) My parents love coffee.
2) When ice melts, it becomes water.
3) The sun rises from the east.

5. Timelessness

Since we are all creatures of habit, timeless
verbs can also mean habits we do frequently.

For example,
1) My siblings love the outdoors.
2) We brush our teeth daily for good oral
hygiene.
3) My friends and I walk to school every day.

These timeless verbs represent habitual actions
and hence, they take on the base forms.

6. Inflections

When a verb changes to reflect different times,
it has inflected.

The main reasons for inflecting a verb is to
show how and when the action happened.

Recall that you have learnt about Perfect,
Continuous and Perfect Continuous – these
all all inflected verbs.

We will dive deeper into this topic and see how
the verb forms change.

7. Present Participle

A present participle is named as such as it
shows actions 'as it is', that is, ongoing in a
moment in time.

These verbs are affixed with 'ing'.

For example,
1) We are walking to school now.
2) She is going to be late for the meeting.
3) They are becoming richer as their profits soar.

These are used in present and past continuous
verb forms.

8. Past Participle

A past participle is named as such as it shows
actions already completed, over a period of
time.These verbs are inflected with 'ed'.

These are used in present and past perfect verb
forms. For example,
1)We have reached already. Where are you?
2)She has completed her homework.
3)They have become richer from their hard work.

Q: Can you see these actions already completed
over a period of time?

9. Supporting Verbs

In both present and past participles, a
supporting verb is needed to show 'when'.

Re-read the examples below.
1) We are walking to the school now.
2) She has completed her homework.

Changing the supporting verb change the
timing of the action:
1) We were walking to the school just now.
2) She had completed her homework when the
mother returned home.

10. Participles and Supporting Verbs

With an understanding of participles, you can show
how actions take place:
An ongoing action, at the moment (present
participle)
/ A completed action, over a period (past participle)

And a supporting verb can show when:
Is/are/was/were + present participle
Has/have/had + past participle

These will help clarify your thinking about
different times that verbs can show.

11. 3-step guide to correct verb forms

Decide on the main verb to use:
1)Action – swim, talk, eat, etc.
2)Mental – think, decide, reflect, etc.

Decide on the participle or manner of action:
1)Ongoing, at the moment – 'ing'
2)Completed, over a period – 'ed'

Decide on the supporting verb or time of action:
1)is/are/was/were for present participles
2)has/have/had for past participles

12. Learning Activity

Write down 6 sentences with action verbs that
are:
1) Timeless – simple present
2) Ongoing, at the moment – present particple
3) Completed, over a period – past participle

Take note that your subjects and verbs must
agree.

13. Discussion

When do verb forms stay unchanged, staying in
its base form?

What do present and past participles show?

What is the role that supporting verbs play?

14. In Summary

Verbs don't change to show timelessness, in
habits or universal truths.

Present participle show ongoing actions, at a
moment in time.

Past participle show completed actions, over a
period of time.

Supporting verbs help to show when these
actions happen.